Door actuating mechanism



Sept..v 20, 1938. J. R. KYLE 2,130,959

DOOR ACTUTING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 24, 1957 Patented Sept. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFEQE Application August 24,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a door actuating mechanism designed primarily for opening and closing the double doors of garages, but it is to be understood that the mechanism, in accordance With this invention is to be used in any connection for which it may be found applicable.

The invention has for its objectto provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a mechanism of the class referred to actuatable in one direction from door closing to door opening position by the weight of a vehicle travelling thereon and automatically actuatable in the opposite direction from door opening to door closing position after the vehicle has cleared it.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a mechanism of the class referred to normally latched in door closing position and actuatable to swing the door to open position by the weight of a vehicle travelling thereon, and with the mechanism including means for automatically restoring it to its latched normal position when the vehicle has cleared it.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a mannerV as hereinafter set forth, a mechanism for thevpurpose referred to which is comparatively simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, readily installed with respect to the double doors with which it is to be employed, thoroughly eflicient in its use and comparatively inexpensive .to set up.

To the above ends essentially, and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a door actuating mechanism in accordance with this invention and illustrating it installed with respect to a double door, the latter being shown in sectional plan,

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 Figure 1 and further illustrating a fragmentary portion of one of the double doors,

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the actuating element for a door turning element, v

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the actuating element for the door turning element,

Figure 5 is a sectional detail illustrating the 1937, Serial No. 160,714

connection between the turning element and the actuating element for the latter,

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 Figure 1,

Figure 7 is a section on line I-l Figure 2,

Figure 8 is a section on line 8 8 Figure 2, and

Figure 9 is a sectional detail illustrating a modied form of connection between the turning yelement and the actuating element for the latter.

With reference to Figure l, iD and Il indicate the sides of a door frame and to which are hinged, as at I2, I3 respectively, a pair of oppositely extending doors I4, I5respectively.

The mechanism includes a normally elevated rectangular platform I6 which extends below the doors I4, I5 and has hinged to the ends thereof a pair of oppositely disposed downwardly inclined ramps I1, I8. The ramps extend upwardly towards the ends of platform I5 and have flat 'lower face portions I9 and 2li. The portion I9 is slidably mounted on the floor 2l of the garage inwardly adjacent the doors I4, I5. rThe por,- tion 20 is slidably mounted on the road surface 22 leading to the doors I4, I5. platform I6 is the inner end of the latter. The end 24 of the platform I6 is the outer end of the latter. The hinged connection between the ramps I1 and end 23 of platform I6 is indicated at 25. The hinged connection between the ramp I8 and the end 24 of platform Iltis indicated at 26. Below the platform I6 is to be formed a depression 21 for the purpose referred to. The length of the depression is greater than thatof platform I6 but its length is not as great as the combined length of the platform I6 and ramps l1, I8. The major portions of the length of the ramps I1, I8 are arranged over the ends of the depression. The platform I 6 is adapted to be depressed into the depression v2l by a means and' for a purpose to be referred to. The platform IS is normally positioned above the oor 2| and the road surface 22 as is shown in Figure 2. The doors I4, I5 when closed are-disposed transversely of the platform I6 and arranged between the transversed median and the end 23 of the latter.

The mechanism includes two pairs of levers. The levers of each pair are oppositely disposed. Each pair o-f levers is arranged adjacent to a side of the platform I6. YThe levers of one pair are of the same form as the levers of the other pair. The levers of each pair consist of a rear lever 28 and a forward lever 29. The lever 28 of one pair opposes in parallel spaced relation lever 28 of the otherpair. The lever 29 of one pair opposes in parallel spaced relation the lever 29 of The end 23 of` the other pair. The levers 28 are of less length than the levers 29.

Each lever 28 consists of a horizontally disposed rear part or arm 38, an inclined intermediate part or arm 3| and a horizontal forward part or arm 32. The part 38 is of materially greater length than the part 32 and of slightly less length than that of the part 3|. The part 32 is formed with a slot 33 extending lengthwise thereof. The forward end of part 38 merges into the rear or upper end of part 3| and the forward or lower end of part 3| merges into the rear end of part 32.

'The forward end of part 38 is mounted on a Each lever 29 includes a forheavy pivot 34. ward horizontal part or arm 35, a downwardly inclined intermediate part 36 and a horizontally disposed rear part 31 formed lengthwise thereof with a slot 3B. The part 35 is of materially greater length than the part 31 and of slightly less length than the part 36. The parts 35, 36 of lever 29 are of greater length than the parts 39, 3| of the lever 28. The rear end ofV part 35 merges into the forward or upper end o-f part 36 and the rear or lower end of part 36 merges into the forward end of part 31. The rear end of part 35 is mounted on a heavy pivot 39.

Fixed to the platform I6 in proximity to its ends 23, 24 are depending inverted yokes 48, 4| respectively. The construction of each of said yokes is as illustrated by Figure 6 and the yoke includes a top member 42 and a pair of depending side members 43, 44. Fixedly secured to the members 43, 44 are a pair of oppositely disposed laterally extending heavy pivot pins 45,46. The

Atop 42 ofthe yoke has its ends flush with the side edges of the platform I6. Y

The parts 38 of the levers 28 have their rear ends pivotally mounted on the pins 45, 46, carried bythe sides 43, 44 of the yoke 4|). 'Ihe forward ends of the parts 35 of the levers 29 have their forward ends mounted on the pivot pins 45, 46 carried by the sides 43, 44 of the yoke 4|. The parts 39 of the levers 28 and the parts 35 of the levers 29 are retained on the pivot pins 45, 46 by the retaining means 41 (Figure 6).

The manner in which the pivot 34 or the pivot 39 is supported is shown in Figure 1 and in this connection an anchor 48 is imbedded in the ground and has fixedly secured thereto a stem 49 having a bifurcated upper end 59 formed with aligning openings 5|. The pin 34 or 39 extends through the aligning openings 5| and is connectf ed to the stem 49 by the retaining means 52. The pivot 34 or 39 is heavy and in Figure 7 it is indicated at 34. The part of the lever 28 or 29 which is connected with the stem 49, by a heavy pivot extends into the furcation 53 and is formed with an opening for the passage of a heavy pivot 34 or 39. In Figure 1 the lever part which extends into the bifurcated upper end 58 of stem 49 is indicated at 30. The mounting for each heavy pivot is generally indicated at 54, Figure l. 'Ihe mountings 54 are arranged in pairs. The mountings 54 of each pair are disposed in spaced relation and arranged with respect -to platform 6 in the manner as shown in Figure 1.

There is associated with one side of each door a bodily revoluble combined hinging and turning element 55 therefor. The element 55 is anchored as at 56 to the lower portion of the door and depends from the latter. The element 55 is formed from a strap of metal of the desired length and gauge and has its lower portion 51 torsionally twisted. The portion 51 in proximity to its lower end has a square opening 58 through which extends the squared portion 59 of the shaft 59a formed intermediate its ends with a shoulder 69. The shaft 59a has a cylindrical portion 59h upon which is revolubly mounted a peripherally grooved roller 6| formed of a pair of oppositely disposed flange sections fixedly secured together. The roller 6| abuts the shoulder 69 and the latter in connection with the retaining means 62 maintains the roller 6| on the cylindrical portions 59h of the shaft 59a. The shoulder 66 in connection with the retaining means 62 couples the shaft 59a'to the lower portion 51 of the turning element 55.

clined slot 61 of a length to operate the turning` element 55 to an extent to turn the door, to

which it is attache-d, to substantially degrees. The portion 66 gradually decreases in height from a point slightly removed from Vone side edge to the other side edge thereof, whereby the upper edge of the said portion 66. has a horizontal edge part extended from the upper end of the sider edge thereof of greatest height and an edge part inclining downwardly from the said other edge part to the other or shorter side edge of said portion 66. That edge part which inclinesr downwardly is of materially greater lengthv than they other edge part and is substantially upon a compound curve. to that of the upper edge lpart of greatestlength and has one end disposed inalignment with the upper end of the upper edge -part of greatest length and its other end positioned in proximity to the aforesaid shorter side edge.- The roller 6| of the turning. element 55 is vn'iounted in the slot 61 and rides against the edges of they The element 64 is moved upwardly, in av manner as hereinafter referred to, for the purlatter.

pose of providing for the operation of turning element 55 in a direction to cause the door to swing from closing to open position. lThe element 64 is automatically moved downwardly .by its weighted portion 65 for the purpose of operating the turning element 55 in adirection to provide for the shifting of the door from open tov closed position. The element V64 constitutesl means for automatically shifting the doors to closed position. The actuating element 64 has the portion 65 thereof arranged in an open top combined guide and retainer casing 68 embedded in the ground adjacent one side ofthe platform I6. casing 68 are of square cross section to prevent the turning of the element 64 when it moves upwardly and downwardly. The portions 66 of the element 64 are provided with laterally extending pins` '69 which are slidably mounted in the slots of the parts 32,` 31 of the levers 28, 29. The elements 55 arer'simultaneously operated. The elements'64are simul-Y taneously operated. The elements `55 operate in unison with the elements 64.

With reference to Figure 8 vthere is shown the manner in which a pair of levers are connected to the pin 69 carried by the portion v66 of actuating element 64. The rear `part 31 'of lever-'29 The slot 61 conforms in contour zur The portion 65 of the element 64 and the` is mounted on pin- 69 and the forward part 32 of lever 28 is mounted on pin 69 outwardly with respect to the part 31 of lever 29. The pin 69 is of a heavy type andv carries a retaining means 10 on its outer end which coacts with its head for retaining the levers 28, 29 thereon. The pin 65 extends through the slots of the parts 32, 31.

With reference to- Figure 9 a modified form of connection between a door turning element and the actuating element for the latter. In lieu of employing a grooved roller 6I a flanged sectional block 1I is used which is carried by a shouldered shaft 12 provided with retaining means for maintaining it connected to elements 55, 64.

When a vehicle travels upon the platform I6 from the ramp I8, the platform will be depressed and parts 3|, 36, 32, 31 of the levers will be elevated upon the pivots 34, 39 and on the elevating of the parts 32, 31 the actuating elements 64 will be moved upwardly and in turn will act on the elements in a manner to provide for the swinging of the doors I4, I5 from closed to open position and they will be held in such position until the vehicle clears platform I6 and ramp I1. After the vehicle clears the platform I6 and ramp I1 the weighted portions 65 of the elements 64 will act to automatically restore the mechanism and the doors to the position shown in Figures 1, 2. When the vehicle approaches the platform I6 from the ramp I 1 the action of the mechanism will be the same as when the vehicle approaches the platform I6 from the ramp I8.

What I claim is:

1. In an opening and closing mechanism for double doors, a depressible platform over which the doors are to be simultaneously shifted to and from closed position, a pair of spaced aligned open top combined guide and retainer casings of polygonal contour positioned below and adjacent to the sides of the platform, a pair of oppositely disposed pressure elevated and gravity lowered non-revoluble actuating members including vertical upper portions of arcuate contour and weighted Vertical lower portions of polygonal contour slidably mounted in said casings, each of said upper portions being disposed substantially diagonally of the top of a lower portion and being formed circumferentially thereof with an inclined slot and a laterally disposed lug below the slot, upstanding oppositely disposed revoluble turning elements for and adapted to be fixed to the doors, said elements including shafts carrying flanged rollers travelling downwardly and upwardly in and coacting with the walls of said slots to provide respectively for said elements opening and closing the doors, and an actuatable pivotally supported means slidably connected to said lugs, pivotally connected to said platform and actuated in a direction on the depressing of the platform to elevate said members to revolve said elements in a direction to open the doors.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 having said actuatable pivotally supported means including two oppositely disposed pairs of spaced levers of like contour, each pair of levers arranged outwardly adjacent the side of and have their outer ends pivotally suspended from an end of the platform, the outer end terminal portions of said levers being arranged above the inner end terminal portions thereof, and said inner end terminal portions being positioned to oppose the inner sides of the upper portions of said members and being formed lengthwise thereof with slots through which extend said lugs.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 having said actuatable pivotally supported means including two oppositely disposed pairs of spaced levers of like contour, each of said levers being formed of an outer and an inner part connected together by an intermediate part disposed at an inclination for positioning said outer part above said inner part, the said inner part being formed lengthwise thereof with a slot, the slot of the inner part of one lever of one pair aligning with the slot of the inner part of a lever of the other pair, said slots providing for slidably connecting the inner parts of the levers of said pairs to said lugs.

4. In an opening and closing mechanism for a pair of doors, a pair of spaced aligned open top combined guide and retainer casings of polygonal contour adapted to be positioned below the hinged sides of the doors, a pair of oppositely disposed pressure elevated and gravity lowered actuating members including vertical upper portions of arcuate contour and weighted vertical lower portions of polygonal contour slidably mounted in said casings, said upper portions being disposed substantially diagonally of the tops of said lower portions and being provided on their inner sides with lateral lugs for slidably connecting therewith an elevating means therefor, the said upper portions being formed circumferentially thereof with inclined slots, and upstanding oppositely disposed revoluble combined hinging and turning elements for and adapted to be fixed to the doors, said elements including shafts carrying flanged rollers travelling downwardly and upwardly and coacting with the walls of the slots to provide respectively for the opening and closing of the doors on the elevating and lowering of said members. the flanges of said rollers connecting said members and elements together.

JOHN R. KYLE. 

